Patents Assigned to Graco Minnesota Inc.
  • Spray control system for line striper sprayer
    Patent number: 10961668
    Abstract: A line striper having a spray control system includes a spray gun, a lever, first and second cables, a manual actuator, and an assisted control. The lever is configured to move between a spray position and an inactive position. The first cable is mechanically linked to the lever. The manual control is mechanically linked to the first cable and configured to pull the first cable rearward to move the lever into the spray position. The second cable is mechanically linked to the lever. The assisted control is configured to pull the second cable rearward to move the lever into the spray position. The lever is independently moveable relative to the first and second cables such that movement of the lever caused by the first cable does not compress the second cable and movement of the lever caused by the second cable does not compress the first cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Graco Minnesota Inc.
    Inventors: Mark D. Shultz, Daniel D. Rohling, David M. Larsen
  • Electrostatic handheld sprayer
    Patent number: 10926275
    Abstract: A fluid sprayer includes a pump and an electrostatic module configured to provide an electrostatic charge to spray fluid. The electrostatic module is electrically connected to a conductive component of the fluid sprayer, such as a fluid displacement member, fitting, cylinder, or spray tip, to charge the spray fluid via the conductive component. The fluid is electrostatically charged prior to exiting the fluid sprayer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Graco Minnesota Inc.
    Inventors: Robert W. Kinne, Mark E. Ulrich, Diane L. Olson
  • Portable airless sprayer
    Patent number: 10919060
    Abstract: A fluid dispensing device includes a housing and a reciprocating piston fluid pump coupled to the housing. The reciprocating piston fluid pump includes a piston disposed within a cylinder. The piston is configured to pressurize at least one pumping chamber. A motor is coupled to the housing and connected to the reciprocating piston fluid pump to actuate the piston. A wobble assembly connects the motor to the piston of the reciprocating piston fluid pump. A spray tip connected to an outlet of the at least one pumping chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: Graco Minnesota Inc.
    Inventors: David J. Thompson, Jerry D. Horning, William M. Blenkush, Eric J. Finstad, Bradley H. Hines, Marius J. Luczak, Diane Olson, Philip K. Snider, Harold D. Johnson, Jimmy Wing Sum Tam
  • Pneumatic timing valve
    Patent number: 10914304
    Abstract: A pneumatic timing valve includes a spool and seal system having a first seal cartridge and a spool. The first seal cartridge has an annular body with radial ports. The spool is positioned within the first seal cartridge and movable between a first and second position. The spool has a central bore and radial ports that intersect the central bore. The radial ports of the spool complement the radial ports of the seal cartridge. The seal cartridge radial ports, the spool radial ports, and the central bore of the spool define fluid flow passages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: Graco Minnesota Inc.
    Inventors: Jacob K. Krech, Corey D. Meyer, David J. Allie, Daniel J. Rogers, Derek R. Shaw, John R. Ingebrand, Joseph A. Daniski
  • Remote monitoring for fluid applicator system
    Patent number: 10890929
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a remote monitoring system for a fluid applicator system is disclosed. The fluid applicator system is disposed to heat and pump spray fluid, and to transmit reports including sensed temperatures, pressures, and other operational parameters of the fluid applicator system via a wireless network. The remote monitoring system comprises a data storage server, and an end user interface. The data storage server is configured to receive and archive the reports. The end user interface is configured to provide a graphical user interface based on the reports. The graphical user interface illustrates a status of the fluid handling system, sensed and commanded temperatures of the fluid handling system, sensed and commanded pressures of the fluid handling system, and usage statistics of the fluid handling system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: Graco Minnesota Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher M. Lange, Nicholas A. Pagano
  • Electro-hydraulic actuated spray guns
    Patent number: 10882063
    Abstract: An electro-hydraulic actuation system for a sprayer comprises a hydraulic system, a hydraulic actuator, an electric actuator and a sprayer. The hydraulic system is for pressurizing a hydraulic fluid. The hydraulic actuator is powered by the hydraulic system. The electric actuator controls actuation of the hydraulic actuator by the hydraulic system. The sprayer is actuated by the hydraulic actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: Graco Minnesota Inc.
    Inventors: James C. Schroeder, Christopher A. Lins, Steven R. Kuczenski
  • Vapor blast system with fixed pot pressure
    Patent number: 10875151
    Abstract: A vapor abrasive blast system includes a pump for pumping a water stream to a pressure vessel for pressurizing the pressure vessel to a pot pressure. A water regulator is disposed to regulate the water stream to a fixed water pressure, such that the water stream entering the pressure vessel has the fixed water pressure. The pressure vessel contains a blasting mixture, comprising an abrasive media and water, for introduction to a compressed air stream and application to a substrate. The water entering the pressure vessel has the fixed water pressure to control the pot pressure. The water regulator is configured to output the water stream such that the fixed water pressure is greater than a compressed air pressure in the compressed air stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Graco Minnesota Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas C. Grau, Nicholas K. Studt, Brandon K. Falkenberg, Bryce J. Gapinski, John W. Turner
  • Rotating piston for pumps
    Patent number: 10859162
    Abstract: A piston is the driven component within a pump. The piston is driven along a longitudinal axis to pump a fluid through the pump. The fluid flows through the piston between an upstream end of the pump and a downstream end of the pump. The piston outputs the fluid into the downstream end of the pump at a vector offset from the longitudinal axis, thereby inducing rotation of the piston throughout the pumping process. Rotating the piston encourages even wear on various components within the pump, such as sealing rings surrounding the piston, thereby increasing the lifespan of the components and increasing the efficiency of the pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: Graco Minnesota Inc.
    Inventors: Jeromy D. Horning, Christopher A. Lins, James A. Klaverkamp
  • Sprayer hopper shaker
    Patent number: 10857561
    Abstract: A material sprayer includes a hopper and a shaker assembly mounted onto a sidewall of the hopper. The hopper includes at least one sidewall that extends along a first plane. The shaker assembly includes a resilient bracket, an electromagnetic coil, and an armature. The resilient bracket is mounted to the sidewall of the hopper and includes first and second ends and a curved portion. The electromagnetic coil is mounted to a portion of the resilient bracket and is configured to generate a magnetic field in response to a current from a power source. The armature is mounted to a portion of the resilient bracket such that the armature is able to move relative to the electromagnetic coil along an acceleration axis that is orthogonal to the first plane of the sidewall of the hopper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: Graco Minnesota Inc.
    Inventors: Jeromy D. Horning, Thomas E. Pauly, Steven R. Kuczenski
  • Handheld texture spray gun with hopper
    Patent number: 10843211
    Abstract: A sprayer includes a spray gun and a hopper. An air source provides compressed air to the sprayer to both eject fluid from the spray gun as a spray and to pressurize the hopper. The spray gun includes an airflow controller for controlling the flow of the compressed air to a nozzle of the spray gun, a pressure regulator for regulating a pressure of the compressed air flowing to the hopper, and a relief valve between the pressure regulator and the hopper. The hopper receives the compressed air through a port in the hopper, and the compressed air assists the flow of material out of the hopper and into the spray gun.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: Graco Minnesota Inc.
    Inventors: Steven D. Becker, David M. Larsen, Steve J. Wrobel, Mark D. Shultz, Robert J. Gundersen
  • Fluid dispensing meter authorization
    Patent number: 10843213
    Abstract: A fluid management system includes an authentication device and a fluid dispensing meter, and the fluid dispensing meter includes a processor and a memory. The authentication device is configured to provide data to the processor. The processor is configured to recall information from the memory, to compare the information to the data received from the authenticator, and to control a trigger control mechanism between the activated state and the deactivated state based on the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: Graco Minnesota Inc.
    Inventors: Bradley G. Kahler, Mark L. Bauck, Joshua R. Holmstadt, Glenn E. Highland, Benjamin J. Paar, Chad G. Igo
  • Flow-based control for texture sprayer
    Patent number: 10814340
    Abstract: A texture sprayer comprises an air compressor, a motor, a spray gun, an airflow switch, and a pressure switch. The air compressor is disposed to send the pressurized gas down a pneumatic line, and is driven by the motor. The spray gun receives pressurized gas from the pneumatic line, and expels the gas when actuated. The airflow and pressure switches are both disposed on the pneumatic line. The airflow switch is situated between the spray gun and the air reservoir, and powers the motor when gas flows through the airflow switch. The pressure switch powers the motor whenever pressure within the pneumatic line falls below a threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: Graco Minnesota Inc.
    Inventors: Max Carideo, Steven D. Becker, August F. Legatt, Mark D. Shultz
  • Paint sprayer pump cartridge
    Patent number: 10815990
    Abstract: A fluid dispensing system includes a motor housing and a piston pump assembly connected to the motor housing. A motor is mounted within the motor housing. The piston pump assembly includes a pump housing, a cartridge having a first end that extends into a second end of the pump housing, a piston that extends into a first end of the pump housing and the first end of the cartridge, and a packing stack within the cartridge and adjacent an inner surface of the cartridge and through which the piston extends. The cartridge is configured to be removed from the pump housing, and removal of the cartridge removes the packing stack from within the pump housing while leaving the pump housing connected to the motor housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: Graco Minnesota Inc.
    Inventors: Mark D. Shultz, David M. Larsen, Justin G. Johnston, Steve J. Wrobel
  • Airless sprayer cartridge
    Patent number: D901626
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: Graco Minnesota Inc.
    Inventors: Justin G. Johnston, Brian M. Mulgrew
  • Control pendant
    Patent number: D904318
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: Graco Minnesota Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas S. Ryder, Charles W. Dawson
  • Component mixing chamber
    Patent number: D904562
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: Graco Minnesota Inc.
    Inventors: Samuel R. Stewart, Jacob R. Whiteoak, Jack A. Bosak, Daniel P. Ross
  • Consumable fluid head cartridge
    Patent number: D904563
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: Graco Minnesota Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel P. Ross
  • Component mixing chamber
    Patent number: D904565
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: Graco Minnesota Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel P. Ross, Samuel R. Stewart, Jacob R. Whiteoak, Jack A. Bosak
  • Hopper
    Patent number: D904566
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: Graco Minnesota Inc.
    Inventors: David M. Larsen, Max Carideo
  • Spray tip
    Patent number: D908835
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: Graco Minnesota Inc.
    Inventor: Paul G. Barney